Marc Marquez on track at Mugello, but shoulder doesn’t leave him quiet

Marc Marquez at Mugello will be there, after the heavy injury of Le Mans. Having passed the tests carried out with MotoGP doctor Angel Charte, the Catalan of Ducati will be regularly on the track for the free practice of the Italian Grand Prix. From his words, however, it is clear that if the worst is over, the physical problems are far from over. So much so that great caution dominates.

“The foot was and remains broken, but for riding a motorcycle it’s not a big problem. It doesn’t worry me, it’s a trifle that shouldn’t limit my performance,” Marquez told the press present at Mugello.

“If anything, the real problems concern the shoulder, because the damage turned out to be more serious than expected. It will take time to get back to the best, the screw was touching the nerve and this also had an effect on some muscles. But with the doctors we determined that the time had come to get back on the bike, although I will have to do it with the right mindset.”

Marquez admitted, however, that he was not at Mugello to simply experiment. His intention is to carry out the entire weekend program on his Ducati, all the way through Sunday. “If I’m here it’s because I feel I’m capable of going all the way. Clearly I am not at my best, I will have to work one step at a time. The race is the race and the risk is there, but over the course of the week I will see if I can adapt to how I feel,” explained the Catalan.

To understand the extent of the physical problem Marquez has been facing, it is worth recalling his own words spoken after his crash in the Le Mans Sprint, which went viral on social media: “I ride with one and a half arms. I raced all these races with a screw touching the nerve that controls my whole arm. My arm goes ‘on-off’ and I can’t push.” It was a confession that had gone around the world, accompanied by images of a tearful Marquez in the Ducati box, distraught over an injury that had forced him to skip not only the long race at Le Mans, but also the Catalan Grand Prix.

The choice to return precisely to Mugello is not without its pitfalls, as former world champion Max Biaggi had pointed out in recent days: “Mugello is one of the most tiring tracks on the calendar. Returning there after foot and shoulder surgery will not be an easy thing for him.” Biaggi had also expressed doubts about the Spanish rider’s condition: “I don’t believe in the fact that we will see him back at 100 percent, however, I think he will try to ride as best as he can, but we will also have to give him some time to see him back at the top.” Words that resonate with what Marquez himself admitted, aware that he cannot yet express himself at the highest level.

The Ducati team had also long maintained a cautious attitude about the return of its star rider. Team manager Davide Tardozzi, asked on the sidelines of the Barcelona tests, had said, “He must return to the track in good condition, physical and mental. Right now, only his health and his full recovery count.” A cautious approach that eventually gave way to a green light, after medical checks confirmed the feasibility of a return to racing.

Believing in Marquez’s ability to recover is also Kevin Schwantz, MotoGP legend and 1993 world champion. The American, when asked about the Spaniard’s situation, did not hide his optimism: “If anyone can succeed, it’s him, although every injury makes it more difficult. It was incredible to see Marc come back after three difficult years without winning and take the world championship in such a dominant way last year. We have to wait and see how bad his shoulder and foot really are. Every time you come back from an injury it’s harder and harder, but he can do it.” Meanwhile, with 85 points behind world championship leader Marco Bezzecchi, every point gained at Mugello could prove invaluable in keeping the nine-time world champion’s rainbow hopes alive.